CHAIRS REPORT: TRANSITION TELFORD 2020-2021
First of all, my thanks go to my fellow Trustees: Robert (Vice Chair), David (Treasurer) and Louise, without whom I would be lost!
This has been my first year as Chair, and it has certainly been a challenging one. Global pandemic and multiple lockdowns meant challenges and changes for all of society, but Transition is showing there is an alternative to “business as usual”.
On starting this job, I decided I needed to brush up my knowledge of what Transition IS. So I went back to the website. There are 7 essential ingredients - - - - https://transitionnetwork.org/do transition/starting transition/7 essential ingredients/
Healthy groups, Vision, Community involvement, Networks and Partnerships, Practical Projects, Part of a movement, and Reflect and Celebrate. Sadly we have not had much time for the last one this last year. But we intend to make up for it!
We were able to take part in online training run by the Transition network globally, via zoom. Starting from What is? And What if? Webinars in September 2020 and resulting in a summit in March 2021 What next? It brought together 100's of community activists, making change happen, inspiring each other and making new connections.
It was enlightening and encouraging to listen to experiences from other Transition groups in the UK and other countries. I know some of us have been inspired by them to do further research in wider areas.
What's been happening in Telford?
We established Terms of Reference for 2 sub groups: Sustainable Food Production and Film. SFP is responsible for organising our Seedswap, Grow Local and Harvest Local events. We are involved in 2 community gardens. The Film sub group is working with the Orbit. There are other sub-groups without TOR. (IT, Energy, Textiles) We have welcomed new people and new passions to Transition Telford this year and will always welcome new faces!
Suddenly being plunged into lockdown meant we had to brush up our virtual skills and we invested in a professional zoom account, which facilitated meetings, both local, national and international. Needless to say, we have relied on social media, the website and zoom more than ever and thanks go to the TTIT's, our IT sub-group, for the extra work they have handled.
Our seedswap was in February 2021, had to go virtual. (Our thanks to Transition Bristol, whose very good ideas we learnt from) And our thanks to the Transition network, who gave us a grant to facilitate this.
Grow Local in 2020 and 2021 has been more localised: one or two person events, with co-ordination online. Both very popular and successful if limited
in scope.
We continued as partners in the Telford and Wrekin Climate Change Plan and Robert, Lynn and Fiona are in different sub groups of this. Members also continue involvement with the T&W Plastic Free Task force and we are encouraged various town councils: Madeley, Dawley, Wellington, Oakengates are involved now.
We also are represented in SCAP (Shropshire Climate Action Plan) and attended Shropshire Climate Action Conference.
Thanks to the Transition Network and the Lottery fund, we won 2 grants: one to help run the Seedswap in February 2021 and a larger one to help the Repair Cafe in 2021
In the immediate future we look forward to the re-opening of the Repair Cafe. In August we look forward to see the Shropshire Love Nature Festival (not our initiative, but we fully support this).
Later we hope to run Harvest Local again – hopefully inside this time!!
Lynn Mann Chair Transition Telford
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGI14NO AND WAIES Trnnslllcm Twn Teltord Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the Pofiod from 21-0>31 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted nds Restricted nd5 Endowment Total fund5 L4¥t >ar A1 Receipts Sundry DonèlKirYJ Donalion5 atovents GtarrtforSe¢d sYp Grantfor Rekpir Caf$ 933 200 Sub fot(Gmss InMe for ARJ A2 Asset and investmènt sales, tabkl. Sub total rofai recwpts 933 A3 Payments vFth$ifvJ InsuFanoo Meeting Exwns8s DonAton to Shropshirè Grèèn X DDn8tiOnS lo CornrrwtyGSdenS Cost of Everts Offi¢eC¢sts 181 144 13 144 1.000 160 260 47 37 1C 153 37 Sub total 410 14$ PA Asset affij inNEstmert urthas Sub total 410 146 1,586 Not OfyalpfP•ymj A5 Tran•T$ beiween funds Ph Cash funds last year end 278 1654 2,932 652 3314 3N91 3,214 6.146 2,890 2.238 CCXX R1 acux¥tslSS}
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Uniestrictsl rKIs Restric1 funds Endowfnent fund5 trj yar&St È B1 Cash funds 3A91 Total Cash funds 3491 1654 xwK¥)I Unrestricw Re5triet•J fuThJs fu15 End¥ment nds to n•arest£ Fj tv asset Cuvrent valu lonal C05t lo1 Cost lOlon9 ¢Urrérttv*E B4 Assets rgtainod for the charitys use rdates on B5 Liabiliti85 Sbjnod by Or ortsw)tmtee8 ' behalf of all Ihe tr sgj[e Print Name al 2021-07.13 ?ALJi ?1 CCXX R2 acwjrts ISSI